Mobile-platform-supported device for the application of a sprayable material to a surface

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device supported by a mobile platform for the application of a sprayable material to a surface, for example sprayed concrete to a tunnel wall. It comprises a spray nozzle which is fitted to the free end of an extendable holder arm and it is mainly characterized in that the holder arm is pivoted at its lower end on a first swinging axis parallel to the direction of motion of the platform, the axis being situated at the free end of at least one intermediate arm, which in turn is pivoted on a second swinging axis parallel with the first swinging axis.

United States Patent 1 Pulk, deceased et al.

[4 Sept. 3, 1974 [73] Assignee: Stabilator AB, Bromma, Sweden [22] Filed: Feb. 22, I973 [21] Appl. No.: 334,596

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 29, 1972 Sweden 2531/72 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,102,738 Perkins 239/160 X 2,185,570 l/l940 Ridley 239/160 X 3,153,510 10/1964 Brannfors et al. 239/176 X 3,276,695 lO/l966 Diardino et al 239/265 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 718,847 ll/l954 Great Britain 239/176 l,l62,340 8/1969 Great Britain 239/178 Primary Examiner-Robert S. Ward, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Anthony A. O'Brien [57] ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a device supported by a mobile platform for the application of a sprayable material to a surface, for example sprayed concrete to a tunnel wall. It comprises a spray nozzle which is fitted to the free end of an extendable holder arm and it is mainly characterized in that the holder arm is pivoted at its lower end on a first swinging axis parallel to the direction of motion of the platform, the axis being situated at the free end of at least one intermediate arm, which in turn is pivoted on a second swinging axis parallel with the first swinging axis.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures I MOBILE-PLATFORM-SUPPORTED DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF A SPRAYABLE MATERIAL TO A SURFACE The present invention relates to a device supported by a mobile platform for the application of a sprayable material to a surface, and comprising a spray nozzle arranged at the free end of an extendable holder arm.

Among the applications of such devices is the coating of tunnel walls with sprayed concrete, and in this connection they have proved to have the great disadvantage that, especially with the technique known as fullface tunnelling, it has not been possible to achieve fully-mechanized continuous tunnelling and reinforcing work. This has been particularly true where the tunnelling machine used is of the type known as a full-face machine, from which the material excavated at the tunnel face must be conveyed away as work proceeds. Up to now it has not been possible to achieve this since the devices intended to coat or line the tunnel walls with sprayed concrete were not able to follow the full-face tunnelling machine at the same speed; there were interruptions in the removal of the material excavated at the tunnel face. Not only do these interruptions interfere with the desirable rhythm of working, they also contribute to increasing the risks of falls in the tunnel, since, because of the interruptions for the removal of excavated material, the fall-preventing first coating of sprayed concrete cannot be applied gradually as the machine-works its way forward.

The purpose of the invention is to describe a new and improved device of the type mentioned initially, which would overcome the disadvantage mentioned above. A.

device constructed in accordance with the invention which is chiefly characterized in that the holder arm pivots at its other end around a first swinging axis parallel with the direction of motion of the platform, the swinging axis being situated at the free end of at least one intermediate arm which in turn pivots around a second swinging axis parallel with the first swinging axis, has also proved in practical tests that it fulfils the purpose stated. The arrangement according to the invention for the swinging support of the holder arm at the free end of a similarly pivoted intermediate arm en-. ables the new device to apply coatings of sprayed concrete to the walls and roofs of tunnels without the holder arm movements having to encroach on the central part of the tunnel at which the removal of the material excavated at the tunnel front by the tunnelling machine can now be permitted to proceed in the most economical manner, for instance by means of a conveyor belt.

In order that the central part of the tunnel may be freed even further for appropriate use, the platform occurring in a device in accordance with the invention can be provided on the underside with a portal-like passage.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention the second swinging axis, that is, the axis on which the intermediate arm pivots, may be situated at one end of the platform, more precisely, its front end. In this way the actual spraying of the concrete can take place in front of the platform, which has the advantage that an operator standing on the platform will always be below a roof already coated with concrete and would therefore be protected from falls as well as no longer being exposed to splashing from the concrete spraying now taking place some dis tance ahead.

The manoeuvrability of the holder arm can be greatly improved by making it possible to move the second swinging axis longitudinally relative to the platform, so that the holder arm supporting the spraying nozzle cannot only be swung in its own plane but can also be moved back and forth relative to'the platform.

In a particularly practical embodiment of the device according to the invention a hydraulic motor for the swinging movements of the holder arm and intermediate arrn is fitted at the swinging axis of the arm in question.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof shown schematically in the attached drawing.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a device according to the invention, erected in a tunnel, while FIG. 2 shows a front view of this device seen from the direction indicated by the line 22 in FIG. 1.

. The device shown in the drawing is intended to follow a full-face tunnelling machine during tunnelling, in order to provide the emerging sections of the tunnel wall and roof with a coating or lining of sprayed concrete, as the tunnel is driven forward.

Essentially the device shown consists of a mobile platform 1 supported by four legs 2 at the lower ends of which wheels 3 are fitted to enable the device to be moved, for example, on rails 4 laid along the tunnel as work proceeds. I

The travel motion is obtained with the aid of a suitable electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic drive means 5 which may, for example, be mounted on the platform 1 in the manner shown in the drawing with broken lines only, and linked to the wheel 3 through suitable transmission, for example chains 6. In the example shown, only the front pair of wheels is driven, but the rear wheels or possibly all wheels can of course be driven.

At its front end the platform 1 supports a spray nozzle 7 which may well be hinged in two planes, one in the direction of motion of the device and the other at right angles to it. The nature of the swinging motions .in the longitudinal direction of the device should be sweeping movements, and these can suitably be achieved by means of a two-way pressure ram not shown here, in a generally known manner. A sweep angle a of 1-20" on either side of the centre position of the nozzle has proved suitable. The swinging motions of the end nozzle 7 in the plane at right angles to the direction of motion of the device should also preferably be of a sweep ing nature and may, for example, be achieved by means of a hydraulic motor 8, only indicated here in outline, at the free end of an extendable holder arm 9 at the same end of which the nozzle 7 is fitted. A sweep angle B of i on either side of the centre position of the nozzle has proved suitable in the plane at right angles to the direction of motion of the device.

To make it extendable, the holder arm 9 in this example has two telescopic tubular sections, the in and out motions of which can be achieved in a suitable generally known manner, for example, with the aid of a twoway pressure ram not shown here.

According to the invention the extendable holder arm 9 is supported at its other end by a first swinging axis parallel to the direction of motion of platform 1', indicated by an arrow in FIG. I. In the version shown which defines the first swinging axis mentioned above,

is in turn situated at the free end of at least one intermediate arm 11, which in turn is pivoted on a second swinging axis parallel with the first, this second axis being defined by a hydraulic motor 12, indicated on the drawing by broken lines. By means of this motor, intermediate arm 11 can also be swung in a plane at right angles to the direction of motion to the device.

Hydraulic motor 12, which defines the above mentioned second swinging axis, is situated in the version shown here at one end, more precisely the front end, of the platform. If considered appropriate, this hydraulic motor 12 can also be mounted at the outer end of a support projecting from the platform, this support possibly being capable of being moved back and forth by generally known means, such as a two-way pressure ram, relative to the platform in such a way that the second swinging axis, hydraulic motor 12 can also be longitudinally displaced relative to platform 1.

When the device is in operation, spray concrete is supplied to nozzle 7 in the requisite amount through the hose 13 connected to the nozzle, the other end of the hose being connected to concrete spraying equipment behind the device shown. The travel and spraying clearly in FIG. 2, where three different positions of the extendable holder arm 9 and nozzle 7 are shown with the paths of the swinging axis indicated by means of dashed-dotted lines. As can be seen from FIG. 2 the arrangement also enables concrete to be sprayed behind the pipework 15 for electric power, air and water to the tunnelling machine operating ahead of the device according to the invention.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawing; it may be modified in a variety of ways within the framework of the following patent claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device supported by a mobile platform for the application of a sprayable material to a surface, for example sprayed concrete to a tunnel wall, comprising a spray nozzle which is fitted to the free end of an extendable holder arm, characterized in that theholder arm is pivoted at its other end on a first swinging axis parallel to the direction of motion of the platform and is extendable radially relative to said direction of motion, the axis being situated at the free end of at least one intermediate arm, which in turn is pivoted on a second swinging axis parallel with the first swinging axis.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second swinging axis is situated at one end of the platform.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second swinging axis is movable longitudinally relative to the platform.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein a hydraulic motor for the swinging motions of holder arm and intermediate arm is mounted at the swinging axis of the respective arm.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the platform has a portal-like passage below it.

Patent No. 3 r 833 I 75 September 3, 1974 Dated Inventor(s) ELGAS PULK et al It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4 (Claim 1) line line line line line line

line

Colnmn 4 (claim 3) line line line line line line line line Column 4 (Claim 4) before movable end,

delete "other" and insert said another before "axis" insert first swinging and change 'at least one" to the delete "is" and insert has its other end delete "movable longitudinally relative to" and insert therefore extendable in the direction of motion of after "platform" insert from said end of the platform delete a in its second occurence; change "motor" to motors after "for" insert providing "holder" insert the after "and" insert the change "is" to are UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE g 2 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent NO. 3,833,175 Dated September 3, 1974 ELGAS PULK et al i Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent Q and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4 (Claim 4) line 32, before "swinging" insert respective line 32, change "axis to axes Q line 32, delete "the" second occurence; line 33, delete "respective" and insert therefore each Signed and Scaled this third Day 0 February 1976 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ofPatents and Trademarks 

1. A device supported by a mobile platform for the application of a sprayable material to a surface, for example sprayed concrete to a tunnel wall, comprising a spray nozzle which is fitted to the free end of an extendable holder arm, characterized in that the holder arm is pivoted at its other end on a first swinging axis parallel to the direction of motion of the platform and is extendable radially relative to said direction of motion, the axis being situated at the free end of at least one intermediate arm, which in turn is pivoted on a second swinging axis parallel with the first swinging axis.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second swinging axis is situated at one end of the platform.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second swinging axis is movable longitudinally relative to the platform.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein a hydraulic motor for the swinging motions of holder arm and intermediate arm is mounted at the swinging axis of the respective arm.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the platform has a portal-like passage below it. 